Petunia plant named ‘Kleph06126’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Petunia  plant named ‘KLEPH06126’, characterized by its outwardly spreading to trailing growth habit; freely branching habit; freely flowering habit; double red purple-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Petunia×hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘KLEPH06126’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Petunia, botanically known as Petunia×hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘KLEPH06126’.

The new Petunia is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Stuttgart, Germany. The objective of the breeding program is to create new freely-branching Petunia cultivars with compact and trailing plant habit, early and freely flowering habit, and unique and attractive flower color.

The new Petunia originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor during the summer of 2002 in Stuttgart, Germany of a proprietary selection of Petunia×hybrida identified as code number V 188, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Petunia×hybrida identified as code number J 11, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Petunia was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Stuttgart, Germany in May, 2003.

Asexual reproduction of the new Petunia by terminal cuttings in a controlled environment in Stuttgart, Germany since May, 2003, has shown that the unique features of this new Petunia are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar KLEPH06126 has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘KLEPH06126’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘KLEPH06126’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Petunia:

-   -   1. Outwardly spreading to trailing growth habit.     -   2. Freely branching habit.     -   3. Freely flowering habit.     -   4. Double red purple-colored flowers.     -   5. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Petunia differ from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia are not as compact as and are more         trailing than plants of the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Petunia have double flowers whereas plants         of the female parent selection have single flowers.     -   3. Plants of the new Petunia and the female parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the female parent selection         have orange red-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Petunia differ from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia are more trailing than plants of         the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Petunia and the male parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the male parent selection         have light pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of the Petunia cultivar Sweet Sunshine Pink, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Stuttgart, Germany, plants of the new Petunia differed from plants of the cultivar Sweet Sunshine Pink primarily in flower color as plants of the cultivar Sweet Sunshine Pink had lighter red purple-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Petunia, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Petunia. The photograph is a close-up view of a typical flower of ‘KLEPH06126’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in Stuttgart, Germany, under commercial practice during the spring in a glass-covered greenhouse with day temperatures averaging 18° C., night temperatures averaging 14° C. and light levels averaging 20,000 lux. Plants were pinched one time about one week after planting. Rooted young plants had been growing for about six months when the photograph and description were taken. Plants used for the description were grown in 12-cm containers. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Petunia×hybrida cultivar KLEPH06126. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Petunia×hybrida identified as code number V 188, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Petunia×hybrida identified as code number J 11, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By terminal cuttings.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 21 days             at temperatures of 20° C. to 26° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 25 days             at temperatures of 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; moderately dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Outwardly spreading to trailing             growth habit. Freely branching habit with about six primary             lateral branches each with multiple secondary lateral             branches; vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 7 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 28 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 14 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 2.5 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 0.5 cm to 3 cm.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Aspect.—Initially upright to outwardly spreading.         -   Texture.—Pubescent.         -   Color.—137C. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple; sessile.         -   Length.—About 1 cm to 5 cm.         -   Width.—About 0.7 cm to 3.5 cm.         -   Shape.—Broadly elliptic.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Obtuse.         -   Margin.—Entire; weakly undulate.         -   Texture, upper surface.—Slightly pubescent.         -   Texture, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.         -   Color.—Developing foliage, upper surface: 137A. Developing             foliage, lower surface: 137C. Fully expanded foliage, upper             surface: 147A; venation, 146D. Fully expanded foliage, lower             surface: 147B; venation, 145A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Double flowers arranged singly             arising from leaf axils. Freely flowering habit with usually             about 31 open flowers and flower buds developing per lateral             branch. Flowers persistent. Flowers face mostly outwardly.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants flower continuously             throughout the summer in Germany.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about one week on             the plant.         -   Flower diameter.—About 4.5 cm.         -   Flower length (height).—About 4.5 cm.         -   Flower throat diameter.—About 2.5 cm.         -   Flower tube diameter.—About 5 mm.         -   Flower tube length.—About 3 cm.         -   Flower bud.—Shape: Elongated oblong. Length: About 4 cm.             Diameter: About 1.2 cm. Color: 71A.         -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Twelve to fifteen petals fused at the             base. Petal length from throat: About 2 cm. Petal lobe             width: About 2.5 cm. Petal shape: Outer petals, roughly             cordate; inner petals, elliptical. Petal apex: Outer petals,             crenate; inner petals, broadly acute. Petal margin: Entire;             undulating. Petal texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous; satiny. Throat and tube texture: Smooth, glabrous.             Color: Petal, when opening and fully opened, upper surface:             66B; venation, 67A. Petal, when opening and fully opened,             lower surface: 71D; venation, 150B. Throat: 66A; venation,             71C. Tube: 160B; venation, 77A.         -   Calyx.—Arrangement: One star-shaped calyx tube with five             sepals fused at the base per flower. Sepal length: About             1.5 cm. Sepal width: About 3 mm. Sepal shape: Lanceolate to             elliptical. Sepal apex: Obtuse. Sepal margin: Entire. Sepal             texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             upper surface: 138A. Color, lower surface: 138B.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 2 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Angle:             Erect to about 60° from stem axis. Strength: Moderately             strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: 137C.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity/arrangement: About             six per flower. Anther shape: Elliptic. Anther length: About             3 mm. Anther color: 2C. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen             color: 2B. Pistils: Quantity: One per flower. Pistil length:             About 5 mm. Style length: About 5 mm. Style color: 1C.             Stigma shape: Oval. Stigma color: 1C. Ovary color: 1C.             Seed/fruit: Seed and fruit development have not been             observed on plants of the new Petunia. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Petunia have been observed to     have good garden performance and tolerate wind, rain and     temperatures ranging from about 6° C. to about 40° C. -   Pathogen/pest resistance: Plants of the new Petunia have not been     observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Petunia. 

1. A new and distinct Petunia plant named ‘KLEPH06126’ as illustrated and described. 